Corps of engineers closely monitoring area's heavy rainfall

Created 02/24/2011 - 1:36pm

Staff reports

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, scrutinized for its failure to effectively communicate during May’s historic Nashville flood, contends it is closely monitoring Middle Tennessee’s ongoing rainfall Thursday and is prepared to respond immediately.

A news release sent Thursday from the corps of engineers said the agency’s Nashville District Emergency Management, Water Management and Crisis Action teams were on standby Wednesday.

“Given the current rain forecast, we don’t anticipate any major issues,” Lt. Col. Anthony P. Mitchell, district engineer, said in a statement. “But we are readying ourselves to respond and assist our local, state and federal partners if the rain forecast changes or flash flood conditions develop and warrant an immediate response.”

The National Weather Service has forecast 2-3 inches of rain in Davidson County.

Mitchell said his team of hydrology experts and emergency management personnel are monitoring the situation and communicating with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the NWS and U.S. Geological Survey to monitor the rainfall and gauge its effects on the Cumberland Basin.

The corps of engineers said it is ready to assist if the Metro Office of Emergency Management calls for a partial activation of the Emergency Operations Center.

The news release adds that the army corps of engineers is operating area dams along the Cumberland River and its tributaries to minimize flooding and reduce lake levels due to heavy rainfall throughout Tennessee and southern Kentucky.